NSD and Interfax announce rollout of premier Russian securities and issuer database RU DATA

National Settlement Depository (NSD) and Interfax International Information Services Group have announced the rollout of Reference United Data (RU DATA), an integrated system for collection, verification and dissemination of corporate information.

RU DATA is an industry-leading database that is the first on the Russian market to bring together all the available latest information and accounting system data on Russian issuers and their financial instruments. The official status of RU DATA information, guarantee of quality and multiple verification of data, real-time updating of information, as well as flexible technology for integrating data directly into the information systems of users make it possible to significantly reduce the risks of using incorrect data and lower market participants‘ expenses on processing and reconciling corporate information.

The official status of data provided by RU DATA is assured by the unique position that the partners hold on the financial market. Interfax, as the leading authorized agency for disclosure of corporate information, receives notifications of material facts and financial statements directly from issuers. NSD, which is Russia‘s designated central depository and national numbering agency and is working on a major project to create a Corporate Actions Center (CAC), is directly responsible for storage and accounting of assets, and is involved in supporting corporate actions as a central element of Russia‘s accounting system.

RU DATA brings together all available information on the Russian securities market. The product provides for tagging of data to indicate the status of the information and its source. Accounting system data are represented by NSD information about securities serviced by NSD and about organizations and corporate actions related to them. NSD, being an accounting institution, records information strictly upon receiving all documents through official channels. Data disclosed by issuers through the system of authorized agencies and provided by Interfax include the latest and additional information about securities, including those not serviced by NSD, as well as a complete database of material facts in structured form. As the CAC takes shape, RU DATA will be supplemented with data obtained by NSD in the process of corporate actions directly from issuers and registrars.

The quality of RU DATA information is assured by multilayered verification. Interfax, as an authorized agency for disclosure of information, conducts initial verification of data received directly from issuers. NSD, using the GoldenSource Enterprise Data Management system, verifies counter streams of data from issuers and registrars, the Central Bank of Russia, Interfax and other sources. The consolidated stream undergoes a final check by Interfax before the data are sent to end users.

RU DATA is geared toward real-time updates. The regulated change of parameter takes place no later than 24 hours after the event. Data reconciliation between NSD and Interfax is done daily at 11:00 a.m. The frequency of data upload for users can vary from regular daily updates to a request and response format.

RU DATA can provide data in various formats and of various composition depending on the needs of the customer. The information delivery technology is geared toward integration with users‘ internal databases with the help of a web service (JSON format) or MS Excel functions (Add-In technology). The product includes additional tools for assessing risks, including ratings from international rating agencies, coupon and put option schedules, and many calculation fields for risk assessment.

Technical support for the database and RU DATA access services is provided by Interfax. Market participants have the opportunity to conduct internal testing of the product and determine the required data upload parameters.

About National Settlement Depository

National Settlement Depository holds the status of Central Depository of the Russian Federation and is a member of the Moscow Exchange Group . The NSD was established on June 27, 1996. Securities worth a total of 28.3 trillion rubles were deposited with the NSD as of February 28, 2015. The Central Bank of Russia has recognized the NSD as a systemically important repository. The NSD‘s payments system is, by status, of systemic and national importance.

The NSD provides a wide range of services, including settlement and depository services, registration of OTC transactions (repository) and information and custodial services. NSD is the Russian national numbering agency and the substitute numbering agency for the CIS, authorized to allocate the international ISIN and CFI codes. The NDS is a Local Operating Unit, assigning international Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) codes. The Bank of Russia has assigned the NSD the status of payment system operator with the registered title Non-bank Credit Organization ZAO NSD Payment System.

The NSD carries out settlements on the stock exchange and most OTC settlements, holds Russian securities in its capacity as central depository and foreign securities. As of today, the NSD has accounts with the central depositories and international central depositories of eight countries, and correspondent accounts with some of the biggest Russian and foreign banks. The NSD holds securities for issuers from more than 40 countries and an "AA-" rating from Thomas Murray Data Services, the specialist custody rating, risk management and research firm.

About Interfax

Interfax is the recognized leader on the Russian information market in the B2B segment. Interfax was founded in 1989, when a group of journalists formed an information agency that became the first nongovernmental outlet for the latest political and economic news about the Soviet Union. Interfax is the most frequently cited source for information on Russia and the CIS in the foreign press and the most popular newswire service about the Russian stock market.

Interfax develops professional information solutions that help companies operate in the financial and commodity markets and reach investment decisions, manage risk, organize external communications and fulfill regulatory requirements. Interfax‘s best-known services include SPARK (risk management, marketing, assessment of businesses), EFiR (full information for financial market participants), E-DISCLOSURE.RU (stock market disclosure system), SCAN (media analysis and monitoring) and others).

Interfax, Sberbank and Experian have created the United Credit Bureau, the Russian market leader for credit information; Moody‘s Interfax Rating Agency, a partnership between Interfax and Moody‘s, assigns national-scale ratings to Russian issuers; and a joint venture with Dun & Bradstreet, another international information market leader, provides information about foreign companies.